Chapter 24: Brain tumor?

Charles dropped Jessica at her house and hurriedly made his way to school, to take the test he had. Luciana was worried about Jessie, and she had a bad feeling that everything was not alright with Jessie, she even noticed it from her facial expression when Charles brought her home. So, she decided they were going to take a break from school and stay home that day.
Jessie went straight into her room and decided to close her eyes to avoid any questions. Luciana, not relenting, followed her and kept on questioning her, till she opened her eyes and sat up.
"I've been asking you, tell me, dear, what happened last night?" Luciana asked, sitting close to her at the edge of the bed, "I know you said you were going shopping, I just didn't understand the turn of events, and you don't look good. Tell me, is anything the problem?" She inquired, turning Jessie's face to hers.
"It's nothing," Jessie lied, trying to fake a smile, which barely happened, "I am fine, the rain just became a problem, so I decided to spend the night at Charles's place. It was easier to access, and they were not many vehicles on the road"
"Is that all? Because I doubt that was the problem. You could call home, but I called instead. Besides Mom was around, so..." Luciana informed, leaving her voice to trail off.
"I am fine, I have told you," Jessie interrupted, sounding a little bit friendly, with a mix of a curt attitude, forcing herself to bottle up the terrible emotions she felt, "If you don't have a problem with it, you can leave now. I want to sleep"
"I'm not leaving, Jessie" Luciana managed to mutter, shaking her head, "I remember we were closer than this, I don't know what brought this distance between us. Before we would always tell ourselves everything that went on with us. Every little thing, maybe I am the one that began to break the rule," Luciana nodded her head vigorously, trying to assure herself that she was on track, "I kept the sickness thing away from you", she said, as she cleaned the stray tears that left her eyes, and the other ones that followed.
Unable to control her emotions, she had about three minutes of crying, palming her face. Jessie was still left in shock at Luciana's burst of emotions and she could not just take in the sickness part, "what are you talking about?", Jessie said in inquiry, her voice shaky.
"It's nothing, I am fine. It's just erm... a hospital report said I have a brain tumor, but I'm on treatments already", Luciana stated on regaining her composure.
"How long did you know this?", Jessie asked, her face filled with worry.
"Less than three weeks, I guess", Luciana replied nonchalantly, still smiling at Jessie.
"You have known this for about three weeks now, and you are just telling me. Forget me, you did not even tell Mom" Jessie stood up from where she sat staring at Luciana in disappointment.
"I'm sorry, but please I still don't have plans to tell her", Luciana giggled, trying to act okay, "do me this Favour and not tell her?"
"Come on how do you expect me to?"
"Please, Jessie," she pleaded.
"Okay, okay", Jessie had no choice but to give in, not still certain about her decision, then went back and sat on the bed.
"So tell me, what's bothering you?" Luciana asked enthusiastically, trying to wash away the aura of melancholy that had surrounded the room, a few seconds back.
The smile that was beginning to form on Jessie's face fell and she took a deep breath, assuring herself that everything was fine and good.
"Well.." she started, "I had gone to the store and on my way, I got kidnapped."
"Jeez!" Luciana exclaimed, "what happened?"
"I will not really call it Kidnap, but Oswald sent some guys after me. I think he wanted to harass me..." Jessie stopped midway as she broke into periodic sobs, "luckily I could dial Charles's number. In conclusion, he saved me. But I'm fine, nothing happened to me" She assured Luciana.
"How would he try that, I want to squeeze him right now" Luciana spoke out in fury, clenching her fists in rage.
"Lol, it's fine. Charles did a good job taking care of him. I'm not sure he will want to try it ever again" Jessie assured herm
"He won't dare, if he does, he will be going to jail and I mean it"
"Okay, okay, I believe you" Jessie managed to utter while laughing. "I am hungry, did you prepare anything" she continued, trying to keep a cute face.
"You're talking about food already," Luciana chuckled, "well I did, I just knew that you will be hungry. Let me get some." Luciana stood up, and Jessie followed, making their way to the kitchen.
************
During Mid-afternoon at Chelan college, the sky colored brightly pouring it's graciousness on the faces of students. A beautiful canvas spread apart, mapping out colorful patterns with thin circumferences of grey, surrounding the blue masses of cloud. The blue in the cloud, amoebic mass of rough balls overlapped on each other laying in the foreground.
"Alyssa is getting on my nerves and I don't think I'll be at peace till I take care of her", Sophie blurted out in rage, pacing about an empty class, with few of her friends surrounding her. Cassandra sat there, catching up on the latest social media gist, while a few others chatted at a corner, half-heartedly listening to Sophie fuss about Alyssa.
"I brought a suggestion earlier, you guys decided to ignore it," Hazel said sniffily, "I feel my idea wasn't bad, that way, we kill two birds with one stone"
"I just need her to be so embarrassed and leave Chelan herself. Her presence irks me... Arrgh" Sophie yelled at the top of her face, shoving her fallen hair backward.
Cassandra who intentionally avoided the whole conversation, to avoid a fight, turned to Sophie as she couldn't hold herself anymore, "I don't think there's any reason going through this much stress when Raymond still will not notice you. I am just saying my mind though", Cassandra shrugged, taking her eyes back to her phone.
"And how is that your business, Sandra?", Sophie paused, holding her left hand to her waist, "because I really don't see how it concerns you. Besides Raymond cares about me and I know. It's just Alyssa that is making everything difficult for me."
"That's where you are getting it wrong Sophie. Aren't you the person that told us that you met Alyssa this morning with Raymond at Exquiz?"
"She probably manipulated him into taking her there"
"Don't be ridiculous, Sophie. We are fully aware that Raymond is not one of those guys you cajole into doing your thing, and that you are a master at manipulating people to do your bids." Cassandra stood up from where she sat, walking straight to meet Sophie, "How is it possible that Alyssa was able to manipulate him, and you couldn't even when you tried seducing him once?"
"Don't go there, Cassandra"
"Chill, Sophie, I was only asking a question, or does it affect you in any way?" Cassandra asked, raising her brows inquisitively, "I have no idea if it did. It was never my intention," She winked at Sophie, trying to stop herself from convulsing into laughter.
"Cassandra you don't want to make this fight be between me and you. If you don't know what to say, you can gracefully keep your ass back on that seat, or I will work you out of here shamefully, it's only for peace that I'm still tolerating your rubbish"
"Ohh... Really, I'll love to see you do that" Cassandra smirked, raising her chins up.
"Cassandra...." Sophie raised her hand in rage, almost to Cassandra's face and stopped midway.
"Goodness, you guys should stop this banter. Enough with this argument every time" Hazel, the group peacemaker, and the one always coming up with the sly ideas spoke.
They took a few seconds of staring at themselves, throwing glares that could literally boil up water, before Cassandra turned around and strolled back to where she sat, swaying her hips as she did. A part of her wanted to walk out of the class they were in, but a major part wanted to stay back and listen to the conclusion on what they intended to do to Alyssa. Maybe that was her opportunity, and she couldn't let it pass away, just like that.
The atmosphere around the girls turned a little bit sour, and no one tried to say anything as nobody was ready to be chewed upon by either Cassandra or Sophie.
Sophie's pride was gradually going to be over, and Cassandra was going to be the cause of it.